Newcastle showed tactical naivety as they lost their opening Zurich Premiership game of the season.

The Falcons battled back from 20-3 down to 20-20 and could have snatched it. But they failed to cope with the pressure in the last 15 minutes and blew several chances to win.

A penalty try awarded by referee Steve Lander proved the difference between the sides. But Newcastle manager Rob Andrew did not complain about the award after the match.

He was more concerned about Falcons' vulnerability at the breakdown and inability to hold their own ball.

He should also be worried about the fact his side don't seem to have grasped the necessity to play attacking rugby in the opposition half rather than their own.

Saracens had no such qualms and kicked on most occasions in their own half and certainly when in their own 22.

Newcastle did not and, as a result, turned over the ball regularly and deserved to be 20-3 down after 33 minutes.

They battled back to 20-20 with 12 minutes left only to give away another try and lose 25-20. It makes next week's home game against Sale a must-win clash or relegation fears loom again.

Lander awarded the penalty try in the 33rd minute after Andy Goode had kicked ahead. The ball rolled into touch with several players chasing.

It had come off a Newcastle player and when winger Michael Stephenson knocked the ball down as Saracens tried to take a quick throw-in, Lander looked at his touch judge. After a quick word he gave a penalty try.

Andrew said: "We lost the game at the breakdown and lost our concentration at a couple of scrums.

"You can't afford to gift tries in the Premiership but that's what we did."

Another Goode penalty made it 10-3 and then he slotted a drop goal. Next was the penalty try, which Goode converted for 20-3. Newcastle got in it when Jamie Grindal darted over. Walder coverted for 20-10.

A Walder drop-goal and a converted Warren Britz score levelled it 20-20. But again Newcastle made the mistake of trying to run it in their own half. Epi Taione was turned over on his own 10-metre line which led to Richard Haughton sweeping away for a try which put Saracens in front again with eight minutes left.